Reliance 606 electric 40 gallon hot water heater will get extremely hot and then shut off. I have to push the reset button after showers. I have turned the heat down but it still gets to hot. Thermostat problem?

short in the wiring bypassing the thermostats
get an electrician in as the fault is serious enough to need it resetting

Reliance Water Heater Literature ' Owner's Manuals ...

www.reliancewaterheaters.com/resources/instruction-manuals

Welcome to the Reliance Water Heaters Owner's Manual and Installation ... 9 40 EKRT - 40 Gallon Tall Self-Cleaning Electric Water Heater - 9 Year Warranty . ..... 10 50 DHPST - 50 Gallon Electric Heat Pump Water Heater - 10 Year Warranty .

How to light the pilot on a Reliance 606 water heater ...

? 3:27
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU2PsFVd2ug
Jul 12, 2011 - Uploaded by kilroywashere123
How to light the pilot on a Reliance 606 water heater ... How to fixwater heater, will not stay lit - sealed combustion no hot water - Duration: ...

Reliance Water Heaters - Consumer Affairs

www.consumeraffairs.com > Homeowners > Bath & Plumbing

Rating: 1.6 - ‎84 votes
I purchased a Reliance 606 water heater in 2010. ... That they don't TELL you there's areset button or that I'm having conspiracy thoughts ... After several attempts, I was able to relight it. ... It's heading to the junk pile and I will purchase a new reliable (NotReliance) ... Checked breaker and changed breaker still no hot water!

Push in reset button located on upper thermostat.
Push circuit breaker fully off and then fully on.
Make sure tank is filled with water before turning power ON or elements will burn out
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html#new

Gene

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

It is the 1" or 11/8" hex nut on the top of the water heater some where near the supply line. As for the anode rod it could be either magnesium or aluminum depending where it was sold. If you are going to change it out call your water provider and ask which would be better for your area and type of water.

It is the 1" or 11/8" hex nut on the top of the water heater some where buy the supply line. As for the anode rod it could be either magnesium or aluminum depending where it was sold. If you are going to change it out call your water provider and ask which would be better for your area and water. To remove you need to turn off the electric, shut the water supply and drain off some of the water so it wont overflow, then it simply unscrews. Use teflon tape or sealer on the thread before installing the new one, then turn everything back on and purge the air from the system by opening a faucet.

Could be a bad thermocoupler.

http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-thermostat-on-electric-water-heater.html

Replace both thermostats. One or the other is sticking, and there is no way to test which one is bad... since test unsticks a stuck thermostat

Gene

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

Electric water heater typically makes 21 gallons hot water per hour.
Gas heater makes 41 gallons per hour.
If you use a timer on electric heater, it will make enough hot water for shower in about 15 minutes summertimer and 30 minutes wintertime. So incoming water temperature is a factor.

If your water heater is not full of water before turning on electricity, then elements will burn out.
Also the ECO might be tripped out: open top cover and push in red reset button.
How to troubleshoot electric water heater:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-water-heater.html

I wrote a page on leaking water heaters.
With a checklist.
It sounds like you've done quite a bit already.
The element can leak around the gasket.
The TP valve can leak where it screws into side of tank.
Otherwise a leak on side of tank sounds like the tank is rusted through and needs to be replaced.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Water-heater-leaking.html

You should turn off electricity and water to the tank, and open tub valve on hot side to relieve pressure so the tank will not rupture.
Then you can limp along with a failed water heater by turning the water and electricity on only when hot water is needed.
This will buy you time until a new heater is installed.
A typical electric water heater produces 21 gallons of hot water per hour.
A shower uses 6-9 gallon of hot water, so heater only needs to be turned on 20-30 minutes for a shower, more if the incoming water is very cold.

To economize with your next heater, you might read the following two pages:
http://waterheatertimer.org/9-ways-to-save-with-water-heater.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/Replace-anode-rod.html

How big is your bathtub? Is your water heater set on the hottest setting? What is the temperature of the hot water at the tap?

Keep in mind that hot water can cause severe burns. Children and those with diminished mental capacity can be seriously harmed by hot water.

The "40 Gallon" rating on the water heater is usually the amount of hot water the unit can produce in one hour. So the tank, and the amount of immediately available hot water, might be smaller than 40 gallons.

My bathtub is 2 feet wide by 1 foot deep and 4 feet long. This is 8 cubic feet or almost 60 gallons. So a 40 gallons of water at 120 degrees, mixed with 20 gallons of cold water (60 degrees), fills the tub with 100 degree water. My January cold water is 42 degrees, so it will take 40 gallons at 129 degrees to fill the tub. If the tub is cold to start it will take even hotter water.

So the water heater might be just fine.

Possible solutions:
1. turn the temperature up on your water heater- or the temperature control could be malfunctioning and not getting the water hot enough.
2. insulate your hot water pipes so that the water loses less heat on the way to the tub.
3. bigger water heater.
4. smaller bathtub, or less full bathtub.